Thomas carey



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CAREY, on WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAVIS SEWINGMACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE. I

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,053, dated November29, 1881.

Application filed lliay 28, 1891.

- by the movement of a vertical feed bar, or by the conjoint action ofthe needle-bar and a vertical feed or helper bar, although portionsthereof are applicable to other sewing-machines. Itis intended as animprovementupon and is shown as embodied in the well-known Davissewing-machine, in which the feed is effected by the conjoint action ofthe needle and vertical feed or helper bars. It has for its object tosecure in working greater efficiency, ease, and freedom from noise, andto simplify the machine and render it more durable. A's heretoforeconstructed the needle-bar has been reciprocated in a vertical directionthrough the intermediary of a cam-bar, upon the face of which theneedle-bar was pivoted, and the lat teral motion required for feedinghas been given to it and to the vertical feed bar through a bar pivotedto the head of the machine at the top and forming the guide for thefront edge of the needle-bar.

In the present invention the cam-bar is dispensed with and theneedle-cam is carried by the needle-bar itself, and the lateral motionfor feeding is obtained through a horizonal feedbarwhich slides inguides in thehead ofthe machine, the needle and vertical feed-bars working in guides in the upper part of the head and in the cross feed bar.By this improvement a number of parts are dispensed with and thefriction and wear are much reduced.

Heretofore the vertical feeding devices-that is, the vertical feed barand-needle-barhave been operated positively in one direction only, thereturn movement being effected solely by spring pressure, and theneedle-bar during its descent has also been held in place by suchpressure. In the present invention the operatModel.)

tion of the needle-bar and vertical feed or helper bar by positivemovement in both directions is insured, and the needle-bar is heldfirmly in position during its descent.

Heretofore the lengthening and shortening of the stitch has beeneffected by adjusting the upper end of the advancing feed-dog toward andaway from its feed-cam. In the present invention the fulcrum of theadvancing feed-dog is adjusted lengthwise ofsaid dog. Means are providedto take up the wear between the feeddogs and the cams, although this isnot great. In the present invention, also, the friction of the verticalfeeding devices in their guides is lessened by the introduction ofrollers; the upper end of the helper-bar is split and provided with ascrew for spreading to make it fit the guides and to compensate forwear; the oiling of the needle-cam is facilitated by the use, inconnection with an oiling-tube, of a projecting ledge, which extendsfrom the cam under the oiling-tube and conveys the oil into thecamgroove, and a more compact and simple checktension than heretofore isemployed. lhis check-tension is arranged between. the tension and thespool-pin, and has for its object to prevent the jerks of the take-up onthe thread from being communicated past the tension to the spool, so asto unwind a too great length of thread.

The following description will enable those skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification andillustrate what is deemed the best mode of carrying the invention intoeffect.

Figure l is a face view, in sectional elevation, of the head of a Davissewing-machine constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2, aside view, in sectional elevation, through the head and outer part ofthe stationary arm or goose-neck, simplified by the omission of certainelements; and Fig. 3, a face view, showing the feed mechanism. Fig. 4 isa detail view, showing the needle-cam and oiling-tube; and Fig. 5, adetail view, showing the construction of the improved check-tension.

A is the stationary arm or goose-neck; B, the

head of the machine; B, the face-plate of the head; 0, the main shaft;D, the needle-bar; E, the helper or vertical feed-bar; F, the horizontalfeed-bar; G, the presser-bar, and H the tension.

Theneedle-bar, helper or vertical feed bar, and horizontal feed-bar areheld between the head'B and the face-plate B, the two former fitting inrecesses in the face-plate, and the latter in recesses in the head. Theneedlebar and vertical feed bar have substantially the same thickness,and are placed edgeto edge. Their upper ends are held between the rollerb fastened to the face-plate and the opposite wall of the recess, whichis curved, so as to permit the bars to have a lateral or swinging motion in the direction of their width, as well as a reciprocating motionin the direction of their length. The lower ends are he'd between therollers b b on the. horizontal feed-bar and play in the recess at thebottom of the face-plate.

()n the main shaft 0 are fixed, at the outer end, two irregular-shapedfeed-cams, I K, and to the outer cam is fixed a pin, L, for impartin g avertical reciprocation to the needle-bar. This pin works in theirregular groove of a cam, L, riveted or otherwise fastened to theneedlebar. The groove in the needle-cam L is sub stantially of the shapeheretofore employed in the Davis and other shuttle machines.

The rise and fall of the helper or vertical feed bar is effected from apin on the face of the needle-bar in the usual way through a bent lever,Z, which is pivoted at z to the vertical feed bar, is jointed at theextremity of one arm by a slot and-pin connection to the presser-bar,and is provided with a slot in the other arm, the pin y on theneedle-bar working in said slot. Lateral movement is imparted to theneedle-bar and vertical feed bar from the feed-cams I K through thefeed-dogs P Q, the springs U V, and the horizontal feed bar.

The feed-dogs P Q are pivoted on studs projecting from the rear side ofthe horizontal feed bar, and are so disposed that their upper ends areopposite, respectively, to the cams I K. The feed-dogs both form leversof the first order. The dog P, which advances the horizontal feed bar,and with it the vertical feed bar and needle-bar, has for its fulcrumthe roller 19, which is carried by the slidelt. Thisslide moves in waysformed inside of the head B, being kept therein by the screw 7', whichextends through a slot in the head. It is adjustable by means of a rackand pinion, S, so as to raise and lower the roller 19, and consequentlyto lengthen or shorten the stroke of the lower end of the feed-dog, andconsequently of the vertical feed and needle bars. A knob, S, fixed tothe shaft of the pinion outside the head is used to revolve said pinionand effect the adjustment.

The return feed dog Q has its fulcrum on the end of the screw T, whichcan be advanced so as to take up any wear between the feed-cams anddogs.

The springs U V are mainly used to avoid the rattling that mightotherwise occur, but they also aid in returning the horizontal feed bar.The spring U is coiled on the stud by which the dog Q is fastened to thehorizontal feed bar, and the free end bears against said (log so as tohold it in contact with the screw T. The spring V is fastened to theheadof the machine, and at its lower end bears against the vertical feed-barE. Both springs tend to force the horizontal feed bar to the right,Figs. 1 and 3, and consequently to hold the upper end of the advancingfeed-dog Pin contact with the cam I. A stop on the bar F limits itsmovement in this direction by contact with a screw, I, which fits in athreaded hole in the head of the machine.

The upper end of the verticalfeed bar is split, asv shown at e, and ascrew, e,is combined with it, so as to spread the-end, and thus adjustit to the recess in which it and the needle-bar are placed.

The needle-cam L is provided on one side with a ledge, or projection, Z,and immediately above the ledge is an oiling-tube, l, depending from thetop of the head B, so that the oil is sure to be conveyed to thegroovein said cam.

On the stand of the tension H, which is constructed in any ordinary orsuitable way, is a check-tension composed of a headed pin, h, having thehead cut away on one side, a spring, h, surrounding said pin, and fittedin arecess in the tension-stand, and a washer, h, interposed bctween thesaid spring and the head of pin h. This washer is slotted and bent, asshown in Fig. 5, so as to have a tongue, W. The thread from the spool ispassed behind this tongue over the pin h, between the head thereof andthe washer ]L2, and thence to the tension H, the take-up, and the eye ofthe needle.

No attempt will be made to describe herein the take-up, since it formsno part of the present invention, and is or may be formed by theneedle-bar and a co-operating device operated by a pin on the needle-barin the same manner as in the Davis sewing-machinein common use.

The operation of the improved machine will readily be understood. As theneedle-bar descends it carries with it the helper or vertical feed baruntil thelatter comesinto contact with the goods on the cloth-plate whenthe pressee foot is lifted. During the descent the horizontal feed baris held stationary by the dog Q, which at that time has its upper end incontact with cam K. As the dog Q is released the cam I acts upon theupper end of the dog I, forcing forward the lower end thereof, and withit the horizontal feed bar and the verti cal feed and needle bars. Bythis movement the springs U V are retracted and the upper end of dog Qis moved toward the main shaft. The distance which the vertical feedandneedle bars are advanced depends,of course, upon the position oftheroller p. The advance move= ment is completed after the needle-barhas commenced to rise, but before it has left the clothplate. Thepresser-bar is then allowed to de scend, the vertical feed bar rises,and with the needle-bar is returned to its first position ready foranother stitch.

The return movement is effected bythejoint action of the springs U V andthe dog Q, or by the springs only, if of sufficient strength; but, inany case, the dog Q insures the return of the parts and holds themrigidlyin position during the descent of the needle-bar.

The operation of the check-tension and the manner of oiling the needlehave been already sufficiently described.

It is obvious that modifications maybe made in the construction of themachine without departing from the spirit of this invention, and thatparts of the invention can be used with out the others. For example, thesprings U V could be dispensed with, or the dog Q could be omitted; butin the former case the partswould be liable to rattle, and in the latterthe positive return of the feed and needle bars would not be insured,nor would the horizontal feed bar be held firmly in position during thedescent of the needle bar.

'Other devices could be combined with the horizontal feed bar to operatethe same. The needlebar could be made to reciprocate in fixed bearingsin the head of the machine, and cams and other devices be so arranged asto advance the feed-bars while the needle is out of the cloth. Theadvantages attending the needle-feed would, of course, be lost.

The horizontal feed bar and dogs and cams could be used to impartlateral movement to the needle bar pivoted on the face of a cambar, andused alone or in combination with a helper or vertical feed bar.

There the words verticalfeeding devices are used in this specificationthey are intended to include one or more such devices, as a needle-barcapable of lateral movement to effect the feeding and a vertical feedbar, as well when used separately as when combined so as to co-operatewith each other in feeding.

Having now fully described my said invention, and the manner in whichthe same is or maybe carried into effect, what I claim is- 1. In avertical feed sewing machine, the combination of vertical feedingdevices supported at the top in fixed guides, a horizontal feed barconnected with said devices below, a shaft turning in bearings in thegoose-neck, and mechanism for imparting from said shaft vertical motionto said feeding devices and horizontal motion to said feed bar, andthrough it lateral movement to the vertical feeding deg vices aforesaid,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the horizontal feed bar with vertical feedingdevices, supported at the upper ends in fixed guides and at the lowerends held between rollers carried by the horizontal feed bar, so thatthe latter imparts its full movement to the said feeding devices,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the horizontal feed bar, of the feed dogs andcams, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the main shaft, turning in hearings in thegoose-neck, feed-cams fixed thereon, vertical feeding devices, andmechanism operated by said cams for advancing said devices positivelyand for insuring the return movement, also,by positive action,substantially as described.

5. The combination of vertical feeding devices, the horizontal feed bar,the feed-dogs and feed-cams, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a feed-bar located in the head of a verticalfeed sewing-machine, of the advancing feed dog, its cam, and the movablefulcrum adjustable lengthwise of said dog, substantially as described. 1

7. The combination of the horizontal feed bar, the return feed dog, itscam, and the adjustable fulcrum for said dog, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination of the horizontal feed bar, return feed dog, itsfulcrum, and the spring arranged to hold it in contactwith the fulcrum,substantially as described. 1

9. The combination of the horizontal feed bar, the feed-dogs, fulcrumsfor the dogs,feedcams,and spring arranged to hold the advancing feed dogin contact with its fulcrum and cam and the return feed dog in contactwith its fulcrum, substantially as described.

10. The needlecam provided with a projecting ledge, in combination withan oiling-tube, arranged substantially as described.

11. The check-tension composed of the headed pin,spring, and bentwasher, provided with a slot and tongue, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a feed bar supported in the head of asewing-machine, ofa feed-cam, a feed-dog, a slide carrying the fulcrumfor said dog, and a rack and pinion for adjusting the position of thefulcrum, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the needle-bar and vertical feed or helper bar,both capable of movement laterally, and also in the direction of theirlength, the needle cam fixed to the needle-bar, the presser-bar, anddevices for imparting motion to the vertical feed and presser bars fromsaid needle-bar, substantially as described.

14. The combination of the needle-bar and vertical feed or helper bar,means for raising the same, the horizontal feed bar, the feeddogs, thefulcrums for said dogs, means for adjusting the fulcrum of the advancingfeed dog lengthwise of said dog, the springs, and the feed-cams,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS CAREY.

Witnesses:

LEVI A. J oHNsoN, JAMES C. BURT.

